The Unpublish Challenge

No, it’s not because my fingers are sore. It’s not because I’m suffering from carpal tunnel. It’s not even because I’m sitting in an uncomfortable chair. (Although…)

It’s painful because I know what I’m about to say will challenge paradigms and hurt people’s feelings.

And not just any people…

People who follow me on Twitter. People who have subscribed to my email list. People who have written guest posts for me.

I’m stalling. It’s best to come right out and say it…

Remember the guest post you contributed weeks, months, or years ago? The one you eagerly shared with your friends and proudly display on your sidebar or “about” page?

I’m removing it from the website. I’m taking it offline. I’m clicking unpublish.

And the most painful truth of all?

Your post shouldn’t have been published in the first place.

Still Reading? It Gets Worse

It just wasn’t ready.

Like an old-fashioned Polaroid or a minor league pitcher who can’t throw his curve for strikes, your guest post needed more time to develop.

That’s on me.

I should have given it back to you for further editing. I should have asked you to make more revisions. I should have demanded more detail and less filler.

But I didn’t. I clicked publish, promoted your post to my trusting readers, and hoped for the best.

Worse? It’s not just yours – I’ve published several guest posts that needed more time in the editing room before seeing the light of day.

I let feelings of obligation and my reluctance to say “no” override what I knew to be true:

“Even if a guest post is good, it doesn’t mean you should publish it. The content needs to be great!” – Neil Patel

Even though I teach readers to do their best and make every post count, I’ve published guest posts that fell short of those standards.

Even though I once spent seven months from start to finish on one of my own guest posts to ensure it was worthy of the website publishing it, I’ve failed to demand the same level of commitment with guest posts written for my own website.

Even though I wanted great, I accepted good.

Thankfully, it isn’t too late to remedy the situation.

It’s Time to Unpublish

On January 1, 2016, any Be A Better Blogger guest post deemed “good not great” will be taken offline. At that time, their URLs will redirect to the post you are reading right now.

Why wait until 2016? Why not take them offline right away?

Because I want to give these guest bloggers a second opportunity. I want to challenge them to do what I failed to ask them to do: Be better.

Revise your guest post. Improve it. Add additional details.

Turn your “good” guest post into a “great” one.

Yes, I realize this is crazy. What I’m proposing is unrealistic, outside the box, and sure to ruffle some feathers.

Why shouldn’t bloggers reach out to past contributors whose content needs refreshing? Why shouldn’t those old guest posts be improved upon and revised?

Better yet…

Why don’t guest bloggers take initiative?

Why don’t we revisit our old guest posts and offer to make them better?

The Road Less Traveled

Have you ever read an old guest post you’ve written and thought, “I could do that way better today”?

Why not do something about it?

This morning, I emailed everyone who has ever published a “good not great” guest post of mine. The details varied, but here is the gist of what I sent them:

Hi [name],

You’re going to think I’m insane.

First off, thank you once again for allowing me to write for your audience back in [month and year]. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, and I’m happy your readers enjoyed it.

All that said, I think I can do better. It’s been [length of time since publishing] and a lot has changed. After rereading [name of guest post] recently, I thought of several ways I could improve it.

I’m not talking about adding any additional links to my website. I’m not talking about including an opt-in bribe or anything like that. I just want to make the post 5% better. I want all future readers of the post to see the best possible version of it.

In short, I’d like to update it.

Would you be open to that?

Kevin

Why did I do this?

I did it because the lifespan of a guest post doesn’t end after the first couple days of comments and social media shares.

People continue to discover your guest posts months – even years – later. In most cases, these posts are the only content these individuals will ever read of yours.

Don’t you want to impress them? Don’t you want to knock their socks off? Don’t you want them to seek out other posts you’ve written?

Of course you do. Or, at least you should.

Everyone who reads a piece of content you’ve written is a potential fan for life.

They’re people who could subscribe to your email list, follow you on social media, and buy that eBook or course you’re planning to create one day. They’re people who could tell their friends about you. They’re people who could shout your virtues from rooftops.

You should do whatever it takes to turn that potential into action.

And those tired, out-of-date, or “good not great” guest posts you’ve written?

They’re not going to cut it.

In fact, they could be doing more harm than good. It’s quite possible they’re hurting your reputation as well as the reputation of the blog owner who published them.

The Unpublish Challenge

Revisit the guest posts you’ve written. Go through them with a critical eye while asking yourself the following question:

“How could I make this post 5% better?”

Is the post a work of art? Awesome. Take a few minutes to share your masterpiece with your followers – it may be brand new to many of them.

But if you find things to improve? Things that kind of… well, suck? You need to do something about it.

Using my email above as a template, reach out to the blog owner who published your guest post. Offer to make it 5% better with absolutely zero strings attached.

If they take you up on your offer, start writing. Make the post the best it can be for all those potential fans for life who will find it.

And if they say no? Well, you need to ask a tough question…

“Does this post help my reputation or hurt it?”

If the post helps your reputation, flaws and all, great. Email the blog owner again and thank them for their time.

But if it hurts your reputation?

Politely ask them to take the post offline. Explain why the post no longer benefits either of you.

Extreme? Yes, but it’s for the greater good.

Keep in mind: You can’t demand they comply. The post is theirs. They own it. You gave it to them.

However, no respectable blog owner will want a mediocre post on their site that’s been disowned and renounced by its author. Your request could be the kick in the butt they need to realize their old content needs refreshing.

Yes, This is Scary

It asks you to critique your work.

It asks you to look a little foolish.

It asks you to reach out to bloggers you admire and say, “Hey… can I try that again?”

It asks all those things of you even though the payoff is immeasurable and could be years down the road.

But it’s worth it.

Somewhere out there is your next fan for life. It could be someone of influence, a future business partner, or the person destined to be your new best friend. And someday, they’re going to stumble across a random guest post you wrote.

Don’t you want it to be great?

Kevin J. Duncan

I use my very particular set of skills to help people become the best bloggers they can be. I serve a great God, love a great wife, and create things that are sometimes great.

Reader Interactions

Comments

When I was in the National Speaker’s Association (years ago), I sat in on a keynote workshop of one the superstars of professional speaking, Joe Calloway.

He asked the packed room full of other professional speakers this question, “How many of you have more than one speech you deliver to different audiences?” Of course everyone raised their hand. He then asked how many everyone had. Most of the speakers had five or more speeches in their bag.

Now the good part. He asked, “Of all your speeches, do you have one that is GREAT? When people hear it they give you standing ovations, line-up for miles to talk to you afterwards and name their kids after you.”

Now the best part. He asked, “When can you ever afford to deliver a speech that’s less than great?”

You’ve hit on all the main reasons we should aim for great, and you gave me a great reminder of one of the most important lessons I’ve ever heard.

What an awesome lesson. Joe was right: When can you ever afford to deliver something that’s less than great?

We bloggers and entrepreneurs take a certain reality for granted: We usually only get ONE shot at connecting with someone. We think, “Oh, I’ll just wow them next time.” Except there usually ISN’T a next time. The first post (or speech, webinar, etc.) someone witnesses of yours is usually the ONLY one they witness. Usually, you never get another shot at them.

I touched on this idea a few months backs back with my “Make it Count” post, but clearly I needed a reminder. 🙂

The Best Blog Post of 2015. Hands down. A bold call to action…delivered by a bold act of humility. I love it! (Sounds kinda like a movie review, huh?)

Kevin, have no doubt — you’re doing the right thing. As a matter of fact, I’m sending out an email or two this morning (based on your template). Lord knows I can improve my last post…probably a lot more than 5%.

The most important part of your post is this:

“People continue to discover your guest posts months – even years – later. In most cases, these posts are the only content these individuals will ever read of yours.”

That statement alone justifies The Unpublish Challenge.

And the best part is this:

“…I want to give these guest bloggers a second opportunity. I want to challenge them to do what I failed to ask them to do: Be better.”

Thank you for mustering the courage to click “publish” this morning. Thank you for being an example of kindness and generosity. And thank you for thwaacking mediocre content…right in the friggin’ kisser!

Wow, hands down the Best Blog Post of 2015?! You flatter me, sir. Haha.

Really appreciate the kind words, my friend. This post was definitely a tricky balancing act for me. I’ve never written anything quite like it. To my knowledge, I’ve never before come close to publishing something people might actually hate with a fiery passion.

Good Morning, Kevin!
I read your post while my morning coffee was brewing, and now I’ll forever associate the idea of doing my absolute best with the aroma of fresh coffee!

Going back to the Influencers and asking for a chance to do better is audacious, novel and sure to get their attention. What a way to cut through the clamor and position yourself as a person who never stops improving. I hope you’ll share how many people you approach and how many take you up on your offer.

I will share this on our Facebook page because it’s so relevant to our business of inventing simple products. As the product is used over time, we get feedback from our customers about how to improve the product. When we decide to make a change, it is often costly because it involves changing molds, or purchasing and testing new materials or designing new packaging. It also creates an opportunity to show our customers that their satisfaction drives our business, and that they come first. Unrelenting dedication to achieving satisfaction, service and sustainability leads to success.

Effective self-criticism is difficult to achieve. I’d like to know how you’re going to improve a piece you select. How will you decide what to add, what to delete, what to rephrase, what to embellish? Would you consider showing us how you go about your rewrite through either a written post or a video? Getting the chance to hear your internal monologue would help all of us with our editing. It might become your most widely read post yet!

Good to see you again! Really appreciate you stopping by and leaving me your great comment. 🙂

I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mary Lou. You’re right — a byproduct of this challenge is anyone who attempts it will get the attention of the blog owners and influencers they contact. Even if they say “no thanks” they should walk away impressed.

(Of course, if this post somehow goes “viral” that impression would quickly change. “Oh no, not ANOTHER past guest blogger asking me if they can update their post! Darn that Kevin J. Duncan of Be A Better Blogger!!”) 😉

Thank you for sharing the post! It should be interesting if any of the blog owners I reach out to will take me up on my offer. One has already replied with a sweet and very kind “I think your post was great… Why not just write ANOTHER guest post for me” (paraphrasing) response. It was very nice to hear. 🙂

If I do get the chance to update an old guest post, I think that’s a great suggestion, Mary Lou. Thanks!

I’m glad you enjoyed it. The fact you and others found it “scary” means I hit the notes I was hoping to hit. This idea IS scary, but I think it’s necessary.

To those who find our random guest posts, we’re only as good as that particular post. They don’t know if it’s the best thing you’ve ever written or the worst — they’re simply going to judge you by what they see.

Thankfully, I don’t have any “bad” guest posts out there in the wild. There are posts I could improve for sure, but none I believe hurt my reputation. I’ve been fortunate that each blog I’ve written for had very high standards. Not that I would have done a poor job, but they eliminated it as a possibility. My post was going to be great, or else it was going to go unpublished! 🙂

My “Howdy Neighbor Technique” post is the closest I’ve come to a “viral” post, but I think it’d be awesome if, as you said, this post caugh on like wildfire. I hope it will!

Quite true, first impression matters if you’re out to maintain a consistent reputation online. So you’re right about making each guest post count.

And like I mentioned in the email I sent to you, I’m crawling out of the heat this post raised yesterday. And you can be sure you’ll have oodles of epic pieces coming at you soon (hey, definitely not from me…I think).

Plus, it just dawned that the premise highlighted in this post is indeed good, in that:

1. It helps you, the guest writer, to give your best; making that “first impression” count for that future reader.
2. It increases your likelihood of being called back severally by the blog author.
3. It’s a good way to establish authority fast and start to build high-priced clients, if you’re a service professional.

Funny I’ve read loads of your posts but often skip “Howdy Neighbour Technique”. Got through the introduction once and then zilched. Must’ve been overly busy at the time. I’ll give it a read soon enough. Noted.

This, however, should definitely become “The Purge Post”. It’s not only a work of ingenuity and, well, huge dose of humility, it’s a sodding rear kicker serious bloggers need to use every three months.

Can I at least point the fingers at Chuck, Dax and Hobin if something was faulty?

Great article, Kevin. Scary? No, not really–not if you want to be your best. That’s why I went into hiding in July this year and only poke my head out on special occasions.

(SEE, just called you special….)

I’m doing the same thing though, with my written books. I pulled all of them from mainstream publication and have been rewriting, including a slew of illustrations and repackaging them as I should have done years ago. Taken me most of this year to do it, but the results have given me instant traction!

Never been more pleased or excited about the future =)

So for those who are wondering if YOU are the one who should improve, chances are, the answer is probably yes.

…if you’re certain it’s NOT you, then the answer is definitely yes.

(smirk)

YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE….so be a blogger ON purpose WITH purpose and STREEEEEETCH.

5% might not seem like a lot, but it would win any race or competition, wouldn’t it?

I admire your dedication to hide away for several months and focus on improving your already great books! Awesome to hear the effort has given you instant traction. 🙂

You know, I considered titling this post: “You’re So Vain You Probably Think This Blog Post is About You.” Of course, to your point, it could just as easily have been you’re so vain you probably think this blog post is NOT about you. Because, let’s face it, those who think they can’t be better CAN BE BETTER!

Can’t wait to see your new website once it’s launched. It’s going to be epic. I’m sure of it!

It’s good to set high standards and make other come up to those standards if they want to be associated with your product. After all your blog and the contents on your blog defines who you are regardless if it’s you or your guest bloggers.
Good job!!

Exactly! Your blog is the sum of its parts. Whether I wrote it or a guest blogger wrote it, every post contributes to the overall quality of the blog. If I publish something that’s less than great, everyone suffers!

I’m glad you enjoyed the post and I really appreciate you stopping by to comment, Sharron. This is your first time commenting, yes? Welcome aboard!

Hi Kevin
Well said. Small things always make a difference, as the British cycling team discovered and celebrated. I don’t know why anyone, who wanted to be read, would be challenged by your words.
Continual improvements welcomed? Great! A blog with high standards is one I aspire to write for – regardless of how much ‘work it requires.

Absolutely. Small things add up in finances, diets, and life. Blogs are no different!

If I’m fortunate, everyone will have the same reaction to this post as you. A blog with high standards is one *I* want to write for, too. It helps me know any post I contribute won’t be tarnished by association. 🙂

Thanks for the kind words, Anthony. This is your first time commenting, right? Glad to have you on board!

Hi Kevin
If I were in your situation I would have done the same.
I agree 100% that we have the right to improve guest posts if these are not great. This is a great lesson for me. For now I will update some of my old posts.

Hi Kevin; this is a step you needed to take not only for the people who submitted guest posts but for yourself. Google isn’t as forgiving as it used to be when it comes to guest posts. So, you have to insist on the very best. I can remember that post I wrote for harleena sing on aha now. Its the post I credit for launching me forward as a coach mentor author etc. even though there was a time pressure she wouldn’t accept just good from me. because she pushed me hard that post got over 100 comments and i made many new connections. its a post that whenever I feel a little down I know I can revisit it and read those comments and feel better. so i hope these authors take up your challenge and submit even better work. I hope that if they show progress you can give them a little more time before redirecting those url’s. after all it takes a lot of courage for most people to even press send on that email asking to guest post. thanks for your candor and be blessed, max

You’re absolutely right. Google ISN’T forgiving. And they shouldn’t be, of course. It’s on us bloggers to make sure our posts are top quality.

I’m glad Harleena demanded your best when you wrote for her. That post, as you mentioned, led to a lot of great things for you. Would those great things have happened if your guest post had been so-so? Probably not. Kudos to you both for refusing to settle for “good enough!” 🙂

hi kevin; thanks, its great knowing my friends are concerned about me. am feeling pretty good other than a bad tooth that will be fixed as soon as me the dentist and the insurance people can agree on the funding. but we all know how that is. 🙂 I hope you are doing well too my friend. As for your question I think some of the opportunities may have come but they wouldn’t have come as quickly. But more importantly is what I learned about myself by being pushed to turn in an excellent post. I haven’t read Harleena’s reply yet, but I’ll bet she said it was all me, my story, and my work. BUt given the time pressures she could have let me get away with less than my best. I’m sure 2016 will bring even better guest posts for your readers and your site. And I hope many of the authors decide to take you up on the opportunity to rework and resubmit. thanks again and take care, max

Thanks so much for the mention, and I couldn’t help stopping in to comment here 🙂

Yes, that very first guest post of yours on my blog picked up SO well. Sorry about pushing you a little – I still remember how we thought of the apt title and suggested all that you could share in it, and the rest is history. I’m glad it worked so well for you and yes, you were so wonderful with the comments as well, my friend. The reached a 150 in number, and that’s just yours and the person who commented, not mine! Let me share the link to the post to remind you – http://www.aha-now.com/life-lessons-blind-blogger/

Hi Harleena; thanks so much for pushing me. It not only made the post so much better but it forced me to see myself in a new light. And it was one of those rare times when you work all hours and don’t notice the clock. It still amazes me that we wrote that post in what seems like less than 72 hours. That doesn’t sound all that impressive unless people know that we are half way around the world from each other and the time differences usually prevent such quick collaboration. Thanks for including the link. That’s one post I’ll never forget! So glad that the stars could align for me to be the lucky winner of the first guest post and then to have you push me to write such an awesome article. You are one special lady. xoxo max

Hi Kevin,
This really shook me up.
As a newbie, we go through the notions of getting as many guest posts written and submitted as soon as possible and sometimes let the quality of the post slide to less than perfect.
My lesson from this post is to realize that it’s not in the quantity of guest posts out there but the quality.
Quick question though, where do I draw the line between writing the best version and forever procrastinating on a post because I think it’s not 100% there?
Thanks for being brutally honest.

There really are two takeaway for guest bloggers in this post. The first is the challenge: Reevaluate old guest posts you’ve written and offer to improve the ones that need improving.

But the second takeaway is implied: Make sure all future guest posts you write are awesome.

You bring up a great point: “Where do I draw the line between writing the best version and forever procrastinating on a post because I think it’s not 100%?”

Should we, to paraphrase the great Seth Godin, “just publish”?

My two cents: You’re never going to get a post perfect. I’ve never written a perfect post, and I’d wager Stacey Roberts, Blaine Wilkerson, Jaime Buckley, Sue Anne, Leanne Regalla, and all the other great people who’ve commented would say the same.

Perfection isn’t achievable.

So if your efforts to achieve it turn every post into a perpetual state of procrastination, you need to follow Seth’s advice. Do your best and “just publish.”

However, here is a good rule of thumb: The better the blog you’re guest blogging for, the more they will protect you from yourself. You won’t have to endure the perfection vs. procrastination struggle if the blog you’re writing for has high standards.

Glen Long and Jon Morrow of BBT won’t let a “good not great” post see the light of the day. When they say your post is ready, you know it’s great. Ditto Write to Done, Copyblogger, Men With Pens, and many other great sites that accept guest posts. They demand greatness. (Heck, Maxwell Ivey right here in the comments has praised Harleena Singh for how strict her guest writing process was — his post was the better for it.)

In short (too late!), for guest blogging I recommend the following: Don’t guest post for any site that will accept mediocrity. If you do, you’ll regret it someday.

It’s the posts for your own blog where the perfection vs. procrastination struggle is really tricky. And for that, I recommend having a few knowledgeable bloggers you trust in your inner circle.

If you think your post is ready, let them read it. If they agree, publish it. If they say it needs more work, it needs more work.

Hi Kevin,
thanks for taking the time to write this reply.
It almost looks like a new post. Just kidding.
Yeah, I loved the part about having some knowledgeable bloggers read and give honest feedback.
Thanks again.
This is why I love beabetterblogger.com. ????????????
Ps: Any recommendation for the ‘knowledgeable blogger’ would be highly appreciated.

I can do better than recommend a single blogger: I’ll point you to a group of them. Go here and subscribe to Mary Fernandez’s Persuasive Bloggers community on Facebook. (Don’t worry, it’s free.) You’ll be granted membership and can start interacting with other bloggers from a range of experience levels — newbies to pros. And when you have a question, you’ll have several people happy to help.

Thanks Kevin,
And to think that I struggled with that last line cos I didn’t know how you would take it.
I just felt it wasn’t right to ask that of influencers but didn’t know where else to turn.
Signed up straight away.
I sure am having an awesome Thursday. You just made my week. …In addition to the high of getting my debut blog post published.
I can’t say thanks enough.
Thanks again. ????????????????

You are right about all that you mentioned, especially the idea about redoing your guest posts to make them better, which is an interesting idea for those who feel they haven’t given their best to it.

Speaking of myself, I’ve hardly written a handful of guest posts for friend’s who asked me to – due to lack of time, but I know I gave it my full, much better than the posts I wrote on my blog at that time! Yes, your guest posts are like a showcase of your work to the world, so they better be the best ones!

We encourage guest authors at our blog to do the same, and there are several email exchanges before we finally accept a guest post, which is all to make them better. It’s easy to accept any guest post and publish it, but if you care for your guest, your blog, and your readers, you’d make it like your very own! Not to mention, we do up the images and take full care of the social promotions too, just as we do for our own guest posts. Perhaps that’s why many new bloggers, who have started their guest post journey from our blog, are doing so well now (I’m not taking credit, just mentioning how collaboration helps).

Love this post and the idea, Kevin. I wish I could clone myself to get it all done!

I can think of some poor posts I’ve published (just a few) 😉 . One site in particular where I cut my teeth actually doesn’t get a lot of traffic, so I’m not sure those posts are hurting anyone really. It’s a trade off. Where should I spend my time? (I know the answer – for me right now it’s on new stuff.)

But I know exactly what you mean about not demanding the same level of commitment and effort from guest posters. That’s definitely changing for me in 2016.

Thank you! That means a lot coming from you. I’ve loved the posts you’ve written for BBT (especially your “empathy” one last year). Not sure why we’ve never connected before now! 🙂

It’s definitely a trade off. The more experienced (and well known you are), the less a random so-so post will hurt your reputation. So, for those individuals, what’s a better use of time: Tweaking old content or creating new? It’s an answer each individual has to ask themselves, but I think most would fall into the same camp as you, Leanne. (“New stuff!!”)

But new-ish bloggers? Those still trying to build their reputation? Yeah, they’d definitely benefit from this challenge. 🙂

If you have a blog then you want to provide value for your readers, and if some content is subpar, then that needs to be reviewed asap. All guest posts on your blog are representing your blog, so if the guest post has ok content, then that brings down the blogs quality of content.

And isn’t great content we are all aiming for? Of course, so let’s put all our effort in to provide great content for people to read.

I’ve been blogging, but I haven’t submitted a guest post on any blog (yet, aha).
But if I do guest posts, I will make the guest post great because it represents me and also the blog owner.

And you should also put out great content on your own blog too. So it’s great that you want to update the guest posts on your blog, because it really is all about being a better blogger.

I don’t guest post for this exact reason – I am so scared of not doing my best on someone else’s site. Although I did do a guest post at the end of November (it took me several weeks of writing and editing) and it stressed me out so much. I’ll go back and read to make sure it IS my best.

Hi Kevin; Well, there are a lot of people out there like me who just enjoy a good challenge. Several of my biggest accomplishments came because someone double dog dared me as the saying goes. I just found out that one of the reasons Alex Okoroji chose me to be in her anniversary show last week was because she thought being on a call with 16 other amazing inspirational people would be a big step outside my comfort zone. As she said I held my own with all of them and came out better for it. I still prefer smaller groups or one on one but its great knowing I can do it. I’m always up to share my story and inspire others. All anyone has to do is ask. And as I say the hardest thing about getting anywhere online is pressing send or publish. don’t be shy, max the blind blogger

I love your ambition to be even just 5% better — that says a lot about your character.

As far as unpublishing people who contributed guest posts to your blog, I must admit, I’m not a fan of the idea.

I don’t say that to be rude — just to say that it’s on for you choosing to publish that guest post in the first place. Learn from it, but don’t penalize the person who wrote a guest post for you.

I’ve been down the same road. I’ve published guest posts people have contributed to my blog, then thought about it a day or two later and said, “I wish I hadn’t published that. It really shouldn’t be on my blog. It cheapens my brand.”

But that’s part of the learning process. Someone spent a portion of their time — however big or small — to write a post for my blog.

And I agreed to publish it.

Taking it down only looks bad on me, not them. It means I backed out of my end of the deal. If I didn’t want it published, I should have said no upfront.

But that’s just my two cents.

You obviously have your reasons, and I respect that you have standards in place for your content.

I’m also excited to see what you do in 2016, my friend — it’s going to be a big year for us both!

5% – I love that number. I had a business coach teach me the power of multiplication in customer acquisition. If you increased the people reached by 5% and converted them at 5% more; the final profit grows substantially!!!

What’s cool about your word picture is you’re asking me to be 5% better so that I can get a 100% better response.

I want to be honest though; I don’t think many can do this and here is why. It’s not that they may not be good writers; that really isn’t the issue.

The issue is they don’t know “what business they are “really” in” and therefore they don’t know how to solve one problem/meet one need/fulfill one desire, for one person, in one piece of content.

It’s a clarity issue! When I see people with clarity they are powerful and so are the responses! Too many people see blogging as a strategy instead of as a tool to demonstrate their competency. Yet, most aren’t competent (not because they aren’t good at what they do) because they are not clear. Without clarity that 5% is going to be hard to achieve. They may improve 1% or 2%; but 5% is a huge leap for many.

I appreciate the perspective you’re bringing and kudos for demanding better for your visitors.